Tree that cures prostate cancer grows in Uganda
Oct 06, 2003
Ugandans are sitting on wealth. A tree that cures prostate disease has been growing in the country for centuries. But only a few herbalists exploit it, yet it is a real money-spinner
By Charles Musisi
Ugandans are sitting on wealth. A tree that cures prostate disease has been growing in the country for centuries. But only a few herbalists exploit it, yet it is a real money-spinner.
Prunus africana locally known as Ngwabuzito or Ntasesa is an effective prostate disease remedy, popular in Europe. Its bark is used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease that causes swelling of the prostrate gland, resulting in urinary difficulty and bladder pains in older men.
“Prunus africana is one of the economic trees which farmers should think of planting on their farms to generate income,†observes Dr. Jean-Marc Boffa, a senior scientist at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF),Uganda office.
The centre conducts strategic and applied research for developing and disseminating tree-based innovations aimed at improving rural livelihoods and the environment.
The tree is widely used by pharmaceutical companies to make medicines such as Male balance, Male 40, Tadenan, Prostatonic, and Progen.
“Uganda could produce 10% of the world market if 30,000 trees were planted every year for 15 years.
This would require that every year, 1500 new farmers plant about 20 trees on their farm. The tree grows well on farm boundaries or in woodlots. Besides income generated through bark sales, farmers could sell it for its good quality timber and medicine,†says Dr. Boffa.
“ICRAF in collaboration with Kampala-based Chemiphar Laboratories and the Forestry Resources Research Institute (FORRI), is assessing the chemical quality of Prunus africana in eight forests of Uganda.
This will be compared with bark from Cameroon and Kenya to evaluate the quality of Ugandan Prunus. This project is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development through Investment for the Development of Export Agriculture (IDEA) implemented by the Agribusiness Development Centre.â€
Francis Esegu, director of FORRI, says, based on the results of the research, FORRI and ICRAF will, through, seed orchards, produce high-quality planting material to be given to farmers.
Prunus africana grows in montane tropical rainforests. In Uganda, it is found in forests in Bwindi, Kibaale, Rwenzori, Kalinzu, Kasyoha-Kitomi, Mt Elgon and others.
The evergreen tree, 10 to 40 meters in height, has a dark brown rough bark. Its dark green leaves are leathery and glossy. The quality of its timber is high and the tree’s heartwood is of a dark rich red colour after processing.
The bark of the tree contains three groups of active constituents: phytosterols, pentacyclic triterpenoids and ferrulic esters of long chain fatty alcohol.
According to Dr. Anthony Cunningham of UNESCO’s People and Plants Initiative, Prunus africana is threatened by unsustainable harvesting of its bark for the pharmaceutical market in northern countries.
The two largest consumers of Prunus africana bark are the Fournier Group in France and Inverni della Beffa in Italy. The trade of finished products derived from the bark is estimated at $150m per year. Two hundred kilograms of dried bark yield 1 kg of extract which is worth about $1000 on the international market.
The species is now considered endangered and is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the international agreement that regulates and monitors trade in endangered species.
Nonetheless, overharvesting of the tree continues. While annual bark exports amounted to 200 metric tonnes in 1980, it reached 3300 tonnes in 1997. With the aging male population in northern countries, its demand is projected to increase.
Prunus is often harvested destructively by felling. Felling provides yields of 50 to 200 kg of bark per tree. But bark can be produced for decades from the same tree by removing alternate panels at eight-year intervals without cutting it. A mature tree harvested in this manner will produce 50 kg every eight years.
Bark should not be extracted before trees reach 30 cm in diameter. They should be about 12-15 years of age.
Ugandans are sitting on wealth. A tree that cures prostate disease has been growing in the country for centuries. But only a few herbalists exploit it, yet it is a real money-spinner.
Prunus africana locally known as Ngwabuzito or Ntasesa is an effective prostate disease remedy, popular in Europe. Its bark is used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease that causes swelling of the prostrate gland, resulting in urinary difficulty and bladder pains in older men.
“Prunus africana is one of the economic trees which farmers should think of planting on their farms to generate income,†observes Dr. Jean-Marc Boffa, a senior scientist at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF),Uganda office.
The centre conducts strategic and applied research for developing and disseminating tree-based innovations aimed at improving rural livelihoods and the environment.
The tree is widely used by pharmaceutical companies to make medicines such as Male balance, Male 40, Tadenan, Prostatonic, and Progen.
“Uganda could produce 10% of the world market if 30,000 trees were planted every year for 15 years.
This would require that every year, 1500 new farmers plant about 20 trees on their farm. The tree grows well on farm boundaries or in woodlots. Besides income generated through bark sales, farmers could sell it for its good quality timber and medicine,†says Dr. Boffa.
“ICRAF in collaboration with Kampala-based Chemiphar Laboratories and the Forestry Resources Research Institute (FORRI), is assessing the chemical quality of Prunus africana in eight forests of Uganda.
This will be compared with bark from Cameroon and Kenya to evaluate the quality of Ugandan Prunus. This project is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development through Investment for the Development of Export Agriculture (IDEA) implemented by the Agribusiness Development Centre.â€
Francis Esegu, director of FORRI, says, based on the results of the research, FORRI and ICRAF will, through, seed orchards, produce high-quality planting material to be given to farmers.
Prunus africana grows in montane tropical rainforests. In Uganda, it is found in forests in Bwindi, Kibaale, Rwenzori, Kalinzu, Kasyoha-Kitomi, Mt Elgon and others.
The evergreen tree, 10 to 40 meters in height, has a dark brown rough bark. Its dark green leaves are leathery and glossy. The quality of its timber is high and the tree’s heartwood is of a dark rich red colour after processing.
The bark of the tree contains three groups of active constituents: phytosterols, pentacyclic triterpenoids and ferrulic esters of long chain fatty alcohol.
According to Dr. Anthony Cunningham of UNESCO’s People and Plants Initiative, Prunus africana is threatened by unsustainable harvesting of its bark for the pharmaceutical market in northern countries.
The two largest consumers of Prunus africana bark are the Fournier Group in France and Inverni della Beffa in Italy. The trade of finished products derived from the bark is estimated at $150m per year. Two hundred kilograms of dried bark yield 1 kg of extract which is worth about $1000 on the international market.
The species is now considered endangered and is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the international agreement that regulates and monitors trade in endangered species.
Nonetheless, overharvesting of the tree continues. While annual bark exports amounted to 200 metric tonnes in 1980, it reached 3300 tonnes in 1997. With the aging male population in northern countries, its demand is projected to increase.
Prunus is often harvested destructively by felling. Felling provides yields of 50 to 200 kg of bark per tree. But bark can be produced for decades from the same tree by removing alternate panels at eight-year intervals without cutting it. A mature tree harvested in this manner will produce 50 kg every eight years.
Bark should not be extracted before trees reach 30 cm in diameter. They should be about 12-15 years of age.